It’s been a tough season for Sheffield United, they have the lowest points tally in England’s top 4 divisions and have lost 23 of their 29 premier league games so far this season.
Unsurprisingly they sit bottom of the table, if you didn’t know that already.
This season is a polar opposite of the last which went ever so well. I think even the most ardent Blade in the land would have accepted just staying up before their first time back in the promised land, instead they defied all expectations finishing in 9th place and only just missed out on European football.
So what’s gone wrong? Why have they had arguably the biggest tail off in Premier League history? The only half similar situation that I can think of was Leicester going from Premier League Champions, to a 12th placed finish the following year.
Money has been wasted by Wilder.
-Rhian Brewster is not close to being Premier League standard right now and isn’t worthy of the 23 million that Sheffield Utd are supposed to have paid. In fact I think half of that would have been too much.
-Ollie McBurnie cost 17 million. With all due respect, what a joke.
That’s 40 million pound that could have been used far more wisely, 1 proper striker would have been a better bet over 2 Championship level forwards. Personally I expected better from Chris Wilder, than that. He has always appeared shrewd in his signings.
Injuries haven’t helped, 20 million pound starlet Sander Berge was supposed to be the heartbeat in the centre of the park but he’s spent more time in the doctors office than the pitch.
John Fleck, Jack O’Connell, John Egan, Lys Mousset have all spent plenty of time out of action, all would probably have featured more frequently had they not been.
So what’s next?
This next appointment is important for United, they can’t run the risk of appointing the wrong man for their return to the Championship, we have seen so many examples in the past of clubs struggling again after relegation. I feel they need an experienced head at the helm.
Here are some of the reported candidates, I’ll stick my opinion next to each one.
Neil Lennon - No, something about me just doesn’t like him, probably the Celtic connection
Eddie Howe - Decent shout, think he’s a good manager. Took Bournemouth from League Two to the Premier League, is young and plays exciting football
Frank Lampard - Not if the Blades want an automatic return to the Prem. Did OK at Derby.
Slaven Bilic - Would be a great appointment in my opinion. Did well with West Brom.
Danny Cowley - Not good enough
Gary Monk - Seriously? How does that man keep getting a job
David Wagner - I like him, wouldn’t be the worst option. Anyone who can get Huddersfield promoted can’t be bad
U23s manager Paul Heckingbottom takes charge until the end of the season so will have a chance to throw his name into the hat, i would be shocked if he got the job long term though.
Times are tough right now Blades fans, but you’ll bounce back! It’s always sad to say goodbye to club legend, but no man is bigger than the club.
Let us know who you want to take over, or who you think will take over in the comments!
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